The following is a transcript of Mayor Kasko’s State of the Borough Address given at the Mayor’s Breakfast on Jan. 14, 2017:
I would like to begin by thanking the Lions Club of Haddonfield for again organizing and hosting this year’s Mayor’s Breakfast. I commend the men and women who make up the Lions Club, as well as all Haddonfield residents involved in other service organizations, civic groups, borough boards and commissions, religious and charitable committees, recreation and athletic leagues, arts groups, and school-related organizations. These folks, who give so much of their time, effort, money and talent to these town groups, are the ones to blame for making this town such a great place in which to live, work, visit and raise a family. Thank you for caring and for being involved.
I am so honored to be able to present the fourth State of the Borough address of my term of office, which ends in May, just a few months from now. It’s been my privilege to serve with Commissioners Neal Rochford and John Moscatelli these past four years, and to work with so many residents and staff on so many issues of importance. Without all of the guidance, help and expertise people provide, we wouldn’t be able to lead and serve this community very effectively.
That high level of involvement is one of the things that make Haddonfield so great. The more I think about the issues and problems we faced over the past four years, the more I realize the importance of everyone working together with commitment and love for our community.
Before reporting on the state of the borough, I would like to recognize the valuable contributions of our residents and those of our borough employees and professionals. I know that everyone here this morning is grateful for your efforts.
As the year 2016 started off, we moved closer to solving a number of challenges and completing several initiatives begun in years past. First among these challenges was reaching an agreement with the purchaser of the Bancroft property, so that we could have some control over what gets developed there. Together, we did that.
Second was working with the planning board to develop and implement a good redevelopment plan for the Bancroft property. Together, we did that.
Third was completing previously planned projects and programs, such as the library improvement project, the complete streets policy and the redesign of our borough website. Together, we did these things.
And fourth was preparing for the future, such as continuing to plan road improvements, making our open space tax permanent, stabilizing municipal spending and property taxes, installing new lights at the high school stadium field and hiring a new library director, who I hope will be here for many years to come. Together, we accomplished these things.
Throughout the year, we also supported some new initiatives that were successful in strengthening our position as one of the best towns in South Jersey and one of the best downtowns in the region. We held the first two Nighttime Food Markets, which were wildly successful and attracted people from around the Philadelphia metropolitan area. We launched the Shop Haddonfield property tax reward program, which is a win-win for our town’s small businesses and resident taxpayers. And we established a Medicine Drop Box at the police department so that residents could safely dispose of unused prescription drugs and keep them away from our children and out of the waste stream and waterways.
These and other new ideas, implemented through the Partnership for Haddonfield, the police department, and other organizations, demonstrate a commitment to making changes and trying new approaches to improve upon the already great legacy that has been left to us by past leaders and residents of the borough.
Part of that legacy is preserving what works and continuing some great traditions and events downtown throughout the year. These include our very popular Summer Crafts and Fine Arts Festival, annual Antique Auto Show, Memorial Day and Independence Day parades, Summer Rotary concerts and sidewalk sales, Fall Festival, holiday candlelight shopping, and First Night New Year’s Eve event.
These legacy programs and efforts also include the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust continuing to bring art downtown, renewing our Sustainable Jersey silver level certification (we are waiting for the state rollout of a gold level certification, which we will go for), our successful Farmers Market, and free parking during the holiday season.
Our public school system continues to stand above the rest thanks to board of education members, administrators, teachers, coaches, parent, and students working together to achieve excellence in education. The $35 million school bond referendum passed last March will result in needed building repairs and infrastructure upgrades at school facilities across the district, beginning this summer
Our school district remains ranked in the top one percent of the best school districts in New Jersey and the nation. Computer science, engineering, and STEM related programs are being instituted in all grade levels, and we have outstanding levels of participation in the performing arts. High school athletic teams continue to perform well, with several sectional, group, and state championships in 2016 and another ShopRite Cup Athletic Award — the only school to receive that designation since its inception. Our students volunteer many hours and raise thousands of dollars for charities, and we have a significant number of National Merit Scholar award recipients. Almost all graduates of Haddonfield Memorial High School go on to higher education, with many of them attending prestigious universities around the country. When it comes to the education of our youth in Haddonfield, we have a lot to be proud of.
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At this time, I would like to give a brief report on the borough’s finances.
The 2016 municipal budget totaled approximately $16 million, with a slight increase in spending due to some shifting of expenses from the old water and sewer operations, an extra 53rd week of payroll that fell at the end of the year and a small cost-of-living increase to police and non-union employees. We again maintained all essential borough services and programs, increased spending on road improvements to $1.7 million, and did so with a very low $36 increase on the average property tax assessment.
Our tax collection rate is outstanding, at around 98 percent, our bond rating remains exceptional, our surplus and cash flow are excellent, and our annual financial audit again found no deficiencies or corrective actions needed.
Capital spending on borough facilities and equipment continues to be an important investment, because putting them off would be irresponsible from a financial and safety standpoint. A new fire truck, public works equipment and improvements to the town’s tennis courts were the major items funded through the 2016 bond ordinance and remaining funds from previous bond ordinances.
Municipal spending and taxes are always a challenge, but we appear to be in good shape for the coming year and hope to introduce a 2017 budget next month that will include a zero or close-to-zero percent property tax increase.
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Before closing, let me say that while only four months remain on our current term of office, we will continue planning for the future and making sure our municipal government is in outstanding condition for when the next Board of Commissioners, whoever they might be, takes office in May.
I must thank both Commissioner Moscatelli and Commissioner Rochford for their service and for working with me over the past four years. I would also like to thank our Borough Administrator Sharon McCullough, our Borough Clerk Deanna Bennett, and our Borough Solicitor Mario Iavicoli, who we rely on to perform the duties of commissioner.
We are also grateful for the work of our department heads and staff in administration, finance, tax assessment, construction and zoning, public works, police department, volunteer fire company, public library, and Mabel Kay Senior Center for their contributions and dedication to municipal government.
Finally, I would like to personally thank my wife, Theresa, and our five sons for tolerating and allowing me to serve as mayor. Without their patience and support, I could not do this.
Thank you all for being here this morning. Thank you again to my fellow Lions Club members. And thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving as commissioner and mayor of this great town.
